The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-28


Harrison, w. P. Fishback. ex-senator McDou-
aid. Gen. T. N. Browne. Judge Byron K. Elliott
and Solomon Claypool
Sketch of His Career.
Jonathan W. Gordon was a native Of Wash
ineton county. Pennsylvania, where he was
born Aug. 49, 1920 William Gordon, hisfather,
was an Irshman of Scotch descent, who emf
grated from County Down, Ireland, to this coun-
try in the winter of 1890 His father married
Sarah Walton, a native of Greenbriar county,
Virginia They had fourteen children, six sons
and eight daughters, Jonathan being the young
est son and next youngest of the family. His
father and mother both died in Ripley county,
Indiana having emigrated thither in April, 1885.
Here Jonathan grew up to mans estate, acquir-
ing a common school education. After studying
kaw, he was admitted to the bar in February.
-. In the meantime he had married Miss
Catherine j. Overturf He followed his profession
until the breaking out of the Mexican war,
when he volunteered as private soldier.lbe-
coming a member OF the company of Capt.
William Ford Third Regiment, Indiana Volnn-
teers He was subsequently, made sergeant
major. He was taken sick at the mouth of the
Rio Grande. and after two months was dis
charged and sent home without having seen any
active service.
Previous to going into the army he had studied
medicine and this study he resumed upon his
turn home. During the winter of 1918 he at
tended a course of lectures ut Rush Medical Col
lego, Chicago. He subsequently, graduated in
the medical department. OF Asbury University
and practiced medicine for a little more than two
years at Moores Hill, Dearborn county, this
State. His new profession was not, however, to
his liking. and in 1852 he removed to Indianapo-
lis to begin the practice OF law. For time he
WAS employed as reporter on the Indianapolis
Daily Journal and was also editor OF the Char.
a weekly newspaper published under the patron
age of the Sons of Temperance He thus d.
vided his time between the press and the law.
In 1858 he became an independent candidate
for the Office of reporter of the decisions OF
the Supreme Court of the State, running
against Albert q. Porter. who was tho
nominee of the Democratic party He was
defeated, and the next yeac was nominated and
elected prosecuting attorney for Marion county.
the Democratic candidate being Richard j.
Ryan. He soon resigned his Office to give his at.
tention to moro profitable business. In 1856 he
went a delegate of the State at large to the
National Republican convention held at Phila-
delphia, in June of that year. On his return he
was nominated for Representative in the Gen
eral Assembly and elected. his opponent being
Richard j. Ryan. In 1858, Mr.. Gordon was
again elected to the Indiana House of Represent
atives, and at che special session, November.
1858, was chosen Speaker, and was reelected at
the beginning of the regular session.
AT the organization of the General Assembly
in 1861 he was elected Clerk Of the House of
Representatives. At the opening of the special
session of that year, Mr.. Gordon volunteered
and was mustered into Company It. Ninth Reg
iment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. April %.
1861. Three days later the colonel appointed
him sergeant-major. in which capacity he went
to West Virginia. The day after the capture of
Phippi he was placed in command of a small
body of mounted scouts, which he led until tho
President appointed him major of the Elev-
enth Regiment, United States Infantry, the ap-
pointment reaching him June IL. 1861 Major
| Gordon remained in Boston nearly three months.
part Of the time in Fort Independence and part
| of tho time as mastering and disbursing officer
| for Massachusetts. He was then orderedto In
! diana to recruit a battalion of his regiment.
| Arriving at Indianapolis late in Novemb Der. 1861,
| he entered upon his new duties Here his labors
| were sadly interrupted by the death of his son,
| Joseph R. T. Gordon, seventeen years DID, who
| was killed in battle in West Virginia, Dec. Ii,
| 1861 In May. 1862, Major Gordon was ordered
to Fort Independence, Boston. and remained
there fifteen months. Having lost his first wife
| he married, in 1862. Miss Julia L. Dumont, a
| daughter of Gen. f. Dumont ar2
| In July 1863 the draft riots broke out in New
York and Boston. In Boston. Major Gordon.
| with two companies, was the first to report
| to the Governor OF Massachusetts, ar
irving at the State capital from Fort Indepsnd-
| ence in less than forty minutes after receiving
the Governors request for assistance. The mob
was suppressed by a single discharge OF canister
| from a twelve FOUNDER Napoleon, and was never
| renewed. Major Gordon, among others, re-
| ceived the thanks of the city and State govern
| ments for the part he took in these operations
| About the middle of September of that year he
| went to the front and participated in the active
| but unsatisfactory movements of the Army Of
the Potomac. He resigned from the army, his
| pay being insufficient to maintain his family at
| home while he was in the field, and his resigna-
| ton was accepted March 4, 1864 On the 18th
| of that month he opened law office IN indian
| apolis
In 1864 he went as delegate to the Cleveland
| convention which nominated Generals Fremont
| and Cochran for President and vice president on
the Liberal Republican ticket. The nominees
| of the Cleveland convention soon withdrew from
the contest and eEeir friends supported Mr.. Lin
coin. In 1865 he took an active part in the
| presidential campaign, making many speeches,
/ and in 1872 was Republican elector for the
| State at large. In 1876 he was nominated for
Attorney general, hut was defeated, with the re-
| m ainder of the Republican ticket He was
elected to the House of Representatives from
this comfy in 1878, and during Hon. A. G. Por
| ters term as Governor held, by appoint ment of
that gentleman the Office of Clerk of the Supreme
| Court, to fill the unexpired term of Mr.. Royse,
who died in Office. This was Major Gordons
last official position.
As a lawyer he gained a fair standing IN the
general practice of his profession but he was
most noted, and perhaps most successful. as
criminal lawyer. He often expressed himself as
having defended more than sixty persons
charged with murder in the first degree. and that
he had had but one client-Louis Guetls-exe-
cuted in thirty-six years of practice. This exc
cution he regretted keenly, the Major having.
under all circumstances, been strongly opposed
to capital punishment.
He was a lover of poetry. and occasionally
wrote. Some of his fugitive pieces have met
with popular favor.
He has had six children, one. a son-John c.
F. Gordon-by his last wife.